‘Baby Reindeer’ Star Jessica Gunning Not Engaging With Fiona Harvey Interviews Because She Feels “Fiercely Protective” Of Richard Gadd

Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning says she has got Richard Gadd‘s back amid a backlash against his megahit Netflix series.

Gunning told The Radio Times that she is not engaging with comments made by Fiona Harvey, the woman she played in Baby Reindeer under the name Martha.

Baby Reindeer tells the “true story” of Gadd’s experience with an alleged stalker, but Harvey denies claims made by the series and said she had not been convicted of stalking.

Harvey has told her story to Piers Morgan, The Daily Recordand others. She is now considering legal action against Netflix, Gadd, and producer Clerkenwell Films.

Gunning said she was concerned about the impact Harvey’s interviews might be having on Gadd, whom she described as a “survivor” of sexual assault and stalking.

“I think he was incredibly brave to bare all. He really did put everything in that show, warts and all, errors, mistakes that were made,” Gunning said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. I’m always fiercely protective of him and I want to make sure that none of this is upsetting for him, really, so I try and keep out of any of that stuff.”

She added that Gadd “deliberately changed identities” for Baby Reindeernaming himself Donny in the drama, but acknowledged that viewers “are intrigued by who the real people are.”

Gunning has previously called on fans of Baby Reindeer not to play the internet guessing game, arguing that it was against the creative spirit of the show.

“Richard has done an amazing job of not making the story so black and white, so there’s no goody or baddy or villain or victim, really. They are just complicated people like humans are,” she told the BBC.

Netflix is not responding to requests for comment about Baby Reindeer. Netflix’s UK policy chief Benjamin King was asked about the series earlier this month during a committee hearing in British Parliament. He stood by the fact that it was a “true story” and said Netflix took “every reasonable precaution” to protect identities.